The German Football Association is celebrating its 125th founding anniversary in Leipzig. There are the usual images of national team triumphs, but also surprises and criticism of capital to a degree that the association still considers appropriate at a ceremony.
The large hall has long been covered in dim bandage green, most of the chairs are occupied, especially by men in mostly dark suits. The gong rings, but it is impossible to start on time. Two of the most prominent guests are late. “Sorry, sorry, sorry”says one as he comes. “I still had to go to the hairdresser”says Gianni Infantinothe man with the dark suit and the bald head. The worst joke of the evening has already been made.
The Chancellor makes small talk
Things can really get started soon, because shortly after the boss of the world football association FIFA comes the boss of the federal government, Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The German Football Association’s gala in the congress hall at the Leipzig Zoo allows him to take a short break from governing, which is being mixed with election campaigns these weeks.
There is still an election campaign, although there is more of a greeting here and a Small talk There is between some men and the woman in the black suit who also came to Leipzig. Lise Klaveness wants to be elected to the UEFA Executive Committee in Belgrade at the beginning of April. The president of the Norwegian Football Association is a sharp critic of Gianni Infantino, who has ruled FIFA for years in a way that could make Olaf Scholz jealous.
Infantino loves German football “very much”
A 125th anniversary gala with classical music and a version of. performed by the same singers “Major Tom” is an occasion where criticism should, however, be hidden a bit. The DFB does this cleverly because it plays a video of Egidius Braun, the late president of the association, who expressed a fear on the 100th anniversary of its founding: “It’s an attempt by capital to take control of football.”
Football has come a long way in this way in 25 years, and Gianni Infantino has played a part in it. But now, at the end of the week, he will attend the inauguration of the US President Donald Trump started, he is just the dear guest who gives out compliments. “I especially love German football”he says, the fans are unique, he read the “kicker” at home in Valais as a child.
Infantino says what is usually said on such occasions. What is shown on such occasions is shown on the big screen. Nia Künzer’s goal that made Germany world champions, Mario Götze’s goal that made Germany world champions.
“Changeful, partly shameful history”
But the DFB surprises with the first film. He starts with the fan chant “Football mafia DFB” and shows a post in which someone asks if pink jerseys aren’t gay. “This is not an image film, but an appeal”says Heike Ullrich, the association’s general secretary. She gives the first speech, the last is reserved for the president.
Bernd Neuendorf catches up on everything that was neglected or even missing in the almost two hours in between. The appreciation of volunteer work, football in the East, the GDR’s Olympic victory, savings water of course, the peaceful revolution that had its origins in Leipzig during the Monday demonstrations. Without them, there would be no Matthias Sammer, no Michael Ballack, no Toni Kroos in the DFB jersey.
Neuendorf talks about them “Changeful, but also partly shameful history” of the association. The DFB had joined forces with the barbaric Nazi regime. That also needs to be mentioned on an evening like this.
The DFB President generally sticks to the present
In the present, the boss of the DFB, like the Chancellor, remains a Social Democrat in general. There are discussions about the skin color of national players “completely missed”football stands for diversity “Many players with family immigration history”.
At the end Bernd Neuendorf says: “Football belongs to those who love it and not to those who think they can buy it.” In view of the billions that Saudi Arabia is investing directly or through investments in football and especially Infantino’s FIFA, that sounds pathetic and naive. But it’s suitable for the screen for the DFB’s 150th.